Terrorism in South Asia

 

https://www.aviation-defence-universe.com/pakistans-self-created-dragon-ttp-blows-fire/

Pakistan’s self-created dragon TTP blows fire

·        Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan renounces ceasefire

By Jai Kumar Verma

New Delhi. 29 December 2022. Pakistan’s Frankenstein Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has formally announced the renunciation of the unsteady ceasefire with the government.  TTP which is also called Pakistani Taliban, is an umbrella organisation of several terrorist outfits. The TTP announced recently that it is relinquishing ceasefire as security forces including intelligence organisations are continuously attacking various outfits of the organisation.

TTP’s orders to its field units are, “wherever you find an opportunity to attack, do proceed”. TTP also demanded the release of several convicts included dreaded terrorists who were members of the outfit. Although security forces have released several hundred prisoners but refused to free few hardcore terrorists.

As a result of active mediation of Afghan Taliban, Pakistan government and TTP concurred for the ceasefire in the beginning of the year. However, both parties have not adhered to it in letter and spirit. The security forces continued attacking TTP affiliates, while TTP also killed more than 300 Pakistan security force personnel and their informers. The ceasefire could not be prolonged as TTP has refused to yield from its demands including the reversal of the merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Pakistani authorities made it clear that the merger of FATA in KP occurred in 2018 after bipartisan consensus and constitution is amended accordingly, hence it cannot be reversed. The TTP fighters have also refused to surrender their arms before their return to Pakistan. Although several meetings were held but were of no avail.

In July this year, a delegation of Ulema led by Mufti Taqi Usmani visited Kabul and tried to convince the TTP leaders to abandon their demand of separation of FATA from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and to surrender their arms, which again did not work.

The TTP fighters attacked Pakistan security forces posted on Pakistan-Afghanistan borders and killed more than 20 Pakistani security personnel in April 2022. The TTP video-graphed the whole incident and posted it on social media in which it was clear that TTP fighters were carrying automatic weapons.

Pakistan government resorted to airstrikes on TTP hideouts in Afghanistan. Islamabad also issued a stern warning to Afghan government not to give shelter to TTP fighters. These warnings combined with airstrikes pressed Afghan Taliban to force TTP for peace negotiations. Nevertheless, recently Afghan Taliban as well as TTP both made it clear that the TTP is operating from inside Pakistan and Afghans have nothing to do with it as it is the internal matter of Pakistan.

Pakistan wants peace with TTP as it fears that its fighters or splinter groups may join Islamic State (IS), which will be very dangerous for the security forces. Islamabad is also contemplating that, in case truce is not feasible with TTP then security forces may try to have ceasefire with some splinter groups of TTP.

TTP was unhappy with the slow pace of negotiation and constant attack on their cadres but the real jolt came when few TTP leaders including Abdul Wali, alias Omar Khalid Khorasani were killed in Afghanistan in August 2022. TTP unofficially called off ceasefire on 3^rd September and carried out several bomb and gun attacks. On 16 November TTP killed six security personnel in Lakki Marwat district.

On December 15 deadly fighting broke out at Pakistan Afghan border at Chaman-Spin Boldak crossing in which more than six Pakistani civilians were killed. Pakistan side alleged that the indiscriminate firing originated from Afghan border while Afghan side mentioned that the firing started by Pakistan security forces. Before the current incident, firing was also occurred at the same border on 11 December in which more than nine Pakistani civilians were killed. The analysts claim that TTP after relinquishing the ceasefire is attacking Pakistan forces as well as civilians. Afghan Taliban are also unhappy with Pakistan as they feel that Islamabad is interfering in their internal matters.

TTP formally pronounced forsaking of peace just few hours after the announcement of the visit of deputy foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar to Kabul to meet Afghan Taliban leaders. The leaders of ‘Haqqani faction’ have invited TTP to meet visiting Pakistan Minister but TTP leaders refused to come for negotiation as they have lost faith in ‘Haqqani faction’ who are too close to Pakistan. TTP is more aligned to ‘Kandhari faction’ which is commanded by defence minister Mullah Yaqoob, who has refused to meet Rabbani. Analysts claim that Mullah Yaqoob refused to meet Hina Rabbani as Afghans wanted to snub Pakistan for, they feel that Islamabad has become very close to USA.

The TTP pronounced cessation of ceasefire a day before General Munir took over as Chief of Pakistan Army. It was a blunt message to General Munir who is facing numerous problems that he should negotiate with TTP to avoid multiplication of problems.

In recent past TTP has lost several of its fighters in Afghanistan which increases its doubts that a faction of Afghan Taliban might be assisting Pakistan government and they may connive with ISI to destroy TTP hideouts in Afghanistan. The TTP leadership if disillusioned with Kabul regime may plan to align with Islamic State which would be detrimental not only for Kabul regime but also for Pakistan government.

However, TTP which has close relations with Afghan Taliban has become quite emboldened after the latter came in power in August 2021 in Afghanistan. TTP claimed that on 30 November in a suicide bomb blast in Quetta, they killed more than three persons including a policeman and injured more than 20 policemen and few polio worker. TTP has strong presence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa especially in FATA area but the bomb blast in Quetta indicates that the terrorist outfit has reasonable hold in Balochistan too.

On 23^rd December TTP suicide bombers were on the verge of hitting out a high-value target in Islamabad but an alert police official detected, challenged, and chased the car in which TTP suicide bombers were travelling. The suicide bombers when chased by security forces blew themselves near police headquarters in which one police official was killed, four policemen and two civilians were injured. The TTP terrorists entered the capital city of Islamabad although it is under high alert. Rana Sanaullah the Interior Minister stated that “Had the car reached its target, it would have caused heavy losses”. TTP took responsibility of the blast and issued a statement that “We take responsibility for the suicide attack against the enemy of Islam.” Pakistan security forces have killed more than 25 TTP terrorists few days back.

TTP leaders feel that if Taliban can bow down USA in Afghanistan, then they can overwhelm Pakistan also.

Islamabad also wants good relations with Kabul so that its arch enemy India does not become strong in Afghanistan. Islamabad is also worried, as after Taliban came to power in Kabul the frequency of terrorist attacks in Pakistan has increased manifold. The strength of terrorist outfits including al-Qaeda, Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) and TTP has considerably enhanced. Pakistan does not like Kabul’s cordial relations with Delhi but Islamabad should realise that Afghanistan is an independent country and it cannot be treated as a client state.

Pakistan currently is facing multiple problems of which domestic political problem is intense because of opposition by former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The economic condition is deteriorating rapidly and the recent flood was devastating.

On the international front Pakistan should try to improve relations with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States, and other western countries. Improving relations with Turkey may not be of much use. It is also necessary that Pakistan should avoid sending terrorists to India, for regaining its own reputation.

Pakistan is home of several terrorist outfits but TTP is the deadliest terrorist organisation in the country. In fact, ISI has created a monster which is out of control and grown out of proportion. After the withdrawal of USSR from Afghanistan in 1989, ISI has organised and trained Pashtun tribes and made them a tough fighting force. The Talibs (students) studying in madrassas including the ones controlled by ISI, joined this force which is known as ‘Taliban’. After 9/11 attack when US led NATO forces invaded Afghanistan, Pakistan sided with US and this angered Pashtun tribes especially of Waziristan and they started opposing Pakistan security forces. In 2007 Pashtuns constituted Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to fight Pakistan security forces. The TTP fought bitter battles with Pakistan security forces in which large number of security forces, civilians and TTP fighters were killed.

TTP which was trained and equipped by ISI was involved in more than 250 attacks on security forces since August 2021. The most brutal attack was on a school in Peshawar in which about 150 persons including 130 children were killed. The analysts claim that in 2022 there was rise of more than 50 percent in terrorist attacks in which about 430 persons were killed and 720 people were injured.

TTP’s main agenda is to overthrow the present government and establish Islamic Caliphate which would impose harsh brand of Sharia. TTP claims that it initiated defensive jihad against Pakistan security forces. TTP attacked and killed large number of security personnel when there was a ceasefire. Now when there is no ceasefire and Pakistan government is facing multiple problems, the attacks would be more severe and lethal. The attacks by TTP would be the biggest internal war which is spawning within the country. This conflict is alarming as it would be difficult for Pakistan forces to control Waziristan area and the TTP may demand for a separate state of Waziristan.

(Jai Kumar Verma is a Delhi-based strategic analyst and Life member of United Services Institute of India and member of Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. The views in the article are solely the author’s. He can be contacted at editor.adu@gmail.com)

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Lankan blasts were significant, as it was the first successful terrorist attack by IS

after it was decimated by US led forces in Syria. Sri Lanka is one of the favourite

destinations of foreign tourists and tourism is an important source of foreign

exchange  earnings  for  the  island  nation.  In  the  blasts  about  40  foreigners  of

different  countries  including  India,  United  States,  China,  United  Kingdom,

Australia and Holland were killed and this would most certainly adversely impact

on tourism in Sri Lanka.

5

As a result of Islamic radicalisation in Sri Lanka, it was assessed that

over 30 youth from the Island, all of whom were well educated and belonged to

well to do families had gone to Syria and joined IS. After the IS was vanquished,

few of these hardcore, fully radicalised youths had most likely returned to Sri

Lanka and organised the bombings of 21

April. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil

Wickremesinghe also acknowledged the same. These blasts were the handiwork

of National Thowheeth Jamaath (NTJ) and Jammiyathul Millathu Ibrahim (JMI).

According to Sri Lankan security authorities, Islamic terrorists carried out these

attacks as a retaliation to the attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand

where more than 50 Muslims were killed.

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 This assessment is however debatable

as an attack of such a nature would have taken months of planning, well before

the attack on two mosques in New Zealand.

The  Islamic  terrorists  may  have  planned  the  Easter  Sunday  bombings

with motive of creating communal riots between Christians and Muslims. The

bombings were planned when Christians were celebrating the Easter festival.

The terrorists succeeded in their nefarious designs and in Chilaw town where

Christians are in majority, they attacked mosques, looted several shops of Muslims

and burnt their vehicles on 12 and 13

May. The problem commenced when Abdul

Hameed Mohammed Hasmer put a post on Facebook as a reaction to the order

of Sri Lankan government of banning the face veils. Abdul Hameed’s Facebook

post  stated  “Don’t  laugh  more,  one  day  u  will  cry”.  The  agitated  Christian

community took this post as a threat by Muslims and consequently attacked the

mosque and Muslims shops. There were cases of riots, burning of shops and

houses at other places also including Hettipola and Minuwangoda cities. One

Muslim in Puttalam district was killed by anti-social elements during curfew.

The government enforced countrywide curfew to curb the communal violence.

All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) appealed to the Muslims to be careful

while  putting  posts  on  social  media  as  the  suspicion  towards  Muslims  has

increased manifold after the 21

April bomb blasts.

Wahhabism is increasingly spreading in the island nation, largely due to

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the flow of large amounts of money to Sri Lanka from a few Middle Eastern

countries for that purpose. The fundamentalist Muslim organisations are utilising

this money in opening and financing madrassas and mosques. These religious

places are misused by extremists to produce terrorists. The Sri Lankan government

needs to formulate a stringent policy towards religious institutions to prevent

further radicalisation of their youth. There is also a need to improve intelligence

collection and collation. Sometimes back about 100 Kilograms of high-grade

explosives, detonators and weapons were unearthed from Wanathawilluwa but

no  in-depth  investigation  was  conducted.  Indian  intelligence  agencies  had

forewarned  Sri  Lankan  government  about  the  attacks  on  Churches,  but

unfortunately Sri Lanka failed to take the requisite action.

Sri Lankan security forces should also keep a watch on Pakistan’s Inter

Services Intelligence (ISI), which is known to work in close proximity with many

terrorist organisations as part of its anti-India agenda. In the past too, the ISI had

established  bases  in  Bangladesh  but  after  Sheikh  Hasina  came  to  power,  she

removed all ISI bases and debilitated ISI supporters. Now ISI is trying to establish

bases in Sri Lanka which is a good choice.

TERRORISM IN AFGHANISTAN

Growing influence of Taliban in Afghanistan, new-born Islamic terrorism

in Sri Lanka, rising influence of jihadism in Pakistan and mounting impact of

Islamic State in the region has turned South Asia into the most dangerous region

of diverse terrorist philosophies and outfits. In Afghanistan, heterogeneous Islamic

terrorist organisations including Taliban and Islamic State are active. The activities

of these groups forced other countries including China, Iran, Russia, few Central

Asian countries, United States etc. to get involved. IS took benefit of the violent

clashes between diverse terrorist outfits and successfully attracted fighters from

several countries of the world.

7

Afghanistan  is  passing  through  an  uncertain  phase.  Originally,  the

presidential  elections  were  scheduled  for  20

April  2018,  but  the  Election

Commission first postponed the elections to  20 July and then again postponed

the elections to 28 September 2019. The reason given by the election commission

for postponing the elections is that more time is required to verify voter lists and

to train election staff on the new biometric identification system. However, many

analysts  believe  the  elections  have  been  postponed  due  to  the  poor  law  and

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order situation in the country and the prevailing uncertainty created because of

futile peace negotiations between the US and the Taliban, the latter becoming

increasingly emboldened as they sense the possibility of withdrawal of US led

NATO troops from Afghanistan.

The  security  situation  in  Afghanistan  is  deteriorating  rapidly  due  to

repeated attacks by the Taliban as well as Islamic State on the Afghan National

Security Force (ANSF).  On 5 May, at least 13 people were killed and dozens

wounded  after  Taliban  fighters  attacked  a  police  headquarters  in  northern

Afghanistan.

8

 Then on 29 May, Taliban fighters stormed several security posts

and  killed  18  security  force  personnel  providing  protection  to  Afghanistan’s

historic  minaret  of  Jam  and  also  cut  access  to  the  UNESCO  World  Heritage

Site. Such attacks indicate the extending reach of the Taliban which now is in

control of most of the rural areas in Afghanistan. The IS also carries out attacks

on the ANSF, but not in conjunction with the Taliban. The ANSF is plagued with

multifarious problems including lack of training, corruption, outdated weapons,

less salary etc. In fact, IS pays better emoluments in comparison to ANSF and it

is one reason that several ANSF soldiers deserted and joined IS along with their

weapons.

Taliban understands that President Trump is determined to withdraw from

Afghanistan  because  of  domestic  compulsions  and  ANSF  is  incapable  of

countering them, hence they are biding their time and dictating terms. Though

Zalmay  Mamozy  Khalilzad,  the  US  special  representative  for  Afghanistan

reconciliation is in talks with the Taliban, the latter have continued with their

attacks on the ANSF and NATO forces. Reconciliation talks were held in Qatar

and UAE in which besides US, Pakistan, UAE and Saudi Arabia participated,

although Afghan government team was present in UAE but could not participate

because  of  resistance  from  Taliban.  Zabihullah  Mujahid,  Taliban  spokesman

made it clear that talks were mainly about withdrawal of foreign troops from

Afghanistan and not about internal matters concerning elections, establishment

of  an  interim  government  etc.  According  to  Special  Inspector  General  for

Afghanistan Reconstruction, Afghan government is losing control over certain

areas which it had earlier held.

Besides Taliban, Islamic State is also making intense efforts to establish

itself in Afghanistan. It has already created the Islamic State of Khorasan Province

(ISKP) which postulates the establishment of Islamic Caliphate which will be

ruled according to Shariat. The idea of Caliphate and rule of Shariat is adored

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by fanatic, crestfallen Muslims which are in large numbers in the region. Few

fanatic  Muslims  from  Pakistan  and  other  countries  are  also  joining  IS  in

Afghanistan. In case IS becomes stronger in Afghanistan it will be more dangerous

for world peace than when Taliban ruled the war-ravaged country. Iran also does

not want IS to strengthen in Afghanistan as IS does not consider Shias as true

Muslims and if IS comes to power it will assist Sunni Muslims in Iran to revolt

against the Shia regime. Russia and China both have sizeable Muslim population

and do not want extremist Muslim regime in Kabul. Needless to say, that Uighur

Muslims  in  China  are  already  fighting  for  an  independent  country.  Pakistan,

which  assists  Taliban  in  Afghanistan  is  also  against  IS  presence  in  Kabul  as

several Pakistani terrorist outfits will give allegiance to IS. Western powers are

also against IS rule in Afghanistan as the cases of ‘lone wolf’ will increase in

their countries.

9

Regardless of the losses suffered by the ANSF, they have stood up so far

in countering the Taliban and the IS. The force needs greater support form the

US and other countries, especially in terms of training, weaponry and equipment.

The importance of production of actionable

intelligence in war

-torn Afghanistan

cannot be over-emphasised and will contribute greatly to ANSF ability to counter

the Taliban.

Should US troops withdraw from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, China

and Iran would try to upsurge their influence because of different reasons. Pakistan

wants to have strategic depth in Afghanistan, which will help Taliban so that it

can control Kabul. Although Taliban and IS are fighting to gain supremacy in

the country but even if Taliban comes both IS and al-Qaeda will become powerful.

This does not bode well for the region and indeed for the world. We are likely to

see further deepening of schisms between the Shia and Sunni Muslims, leading

to  sectarian  conflict.  The  importance  of  US  troops  staying  the  course  in  the

present situation is vital for regional peace, but that is a call the US President

has to take.

India has vital stakes in Afghanistan, but has limited ability to influence

the course of events in the region. India should not send its troops to war-scarred

Afghanistan  but  should  continue  imparting  training  to  ANSF  soldiers  and

equipping  them  with  arms  and  ammunition  and  must  continue  to  assist  in

development projects in Afghanistan. If Pakistan supported Taliban comes to

power, it will not be in India’s interest and so India must do what it can to prevent

such an outcome.

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PAKISTAN - THE EPICENTRE OF TERRORISM

Michael Glenn Mullen, a retired United States Navy Admiral, who served

as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1 October 2007 to 30 September

2011, while addressing a press conference of foreign journalists at Washington,

stated “It (Pakistan) is the epicentre of terrorism in the world”. He pointed out

that it is essential for Pakistan to close all the safe havens in its boundary and

opined  that  the  US  was  not  successful  in  Afghanistan  because  of  these  safe

havens.

10

Pakistan has waged a low intensity war against India and Afghanistan,

and Islamabad is harbouring several terrorist outfits for carrying out terrorist

activities in its eastern as well as its western neighbours. Terror is an important

segment of Pakistan’s foreign policy. The National Counter Terrorism Authority

(NCTA) has already banned 69 terrorist organisations on paper; however the

NCTA left several terrorist organisations including Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Hizb-

ul-Mujahideen and the al Badr, which are operating from Pakistan Occupied

Kashmir (POK). Sometime back, NCTA also banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa and its

front  organisation  Falah-e-Insaniat  Foundation  (FIF).  The  NCTA  claims  that

majority of these terrorist outfits are operative in the Federally Administered

Tribal Areas (FATA), Balochistan, POK and in Gilgit-Baltistan areas. ISI protégée

Hafiz Saeed founded Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) which is the most gruesome terrorist

outfit and carried out several terrorist attacks in India. Besides these there are

other terrorist outfits including Tehrik-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM),

Jamaat-ud-Dawa  (JuD),  Jaish-e-Mohammed,  Dukhtaran-e-Millat,  Harkat-ul-

Mujahideen, Khalistan Commando Force, International Sikh Youth Federation,

Babbar Khalsa International, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ). Besides these outfits there

are several other terrorist organisations functioning in Pakistan.

11

Pakistan  under  international  pressure  has  launched  several  operations

against terrorists but these operations could not be successful as Pakistan security

agencies differentiated between “good” and “bad” terrorists. “Good” terrorists

were obeying the instructions of ISI and were attacking the neighbouring countries

especially India and Afghanistan while “Bad” terrorists were not following the

commands of ISI and carrying out terrorist activities within Pakistan.

Pakistan is passing through a critical economic phase. To assist Pakistan,

China  has  provided  aid  to  the  tune  of  USD  4  billion.    Saudi  Arabia  and  the

United Arab Emirates have also chipped in with aid of USD 3 billion and USD

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2 billion respectively, but all this proved insufficient and Pakistan was forced to

approach the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for assistance. In May 2019,

the IMF agreed to give a bailout package of USD 6 billion to Pakistan, spread

over three years. It is not clear what the impact of the China-Pakistan Economic

Corridor (CPEC), which is being funded by China, will be on Pakistan. China

originally planned to invest USD 46 billion on CPEC. this value has now increased

to USD 62 billion and in all probability will turn out to be a debt trap for Pakistan

and will greatly increase Chinese footprints within Pakistan, especially in Gilgit

and Baltistan and in resource rich Balochistan.

For Pakistan to retrieve its economy, it would need to make peace with

India and put a halt to all forms of terrorism emanating from its soil. This however

is a tall ask and Pakistan is unlikely to follow that path. The Pakistan Army in all

likelihood  will continue with its policy of ‘bleeding India with a thousand cuts’.

Indian reaction to Pakistani attempts to foment trouble in J&K and in other parts

of the country will be met with a strong response, but even so, Pakistan is unlikely

to change course, until its people rise up as one and demand a change.

Pakistan security forces should also be careful as the Islamic State group

had announced the establishment of “Islamic State Pakistan Province” (ISPP).

According to the Amaq news agency of Islamic State, ISPP which had carried

out few terrorist activities in Pakistan has established itself in restive province

of  Balochistan.  There  are  several  secessionist  outfits  in  Balochistan,  and  the

people of the province are very critical of Islamabad.  If not handled properly,

Balochistan may become another Syria.

12

Pakistan Army and dishonest politicians should take a lesson from past

as  Pakistan  besides  economic  problems  is  also  facing  diverse  problems.

Balochistan is fighting for an independent country and Pashtuns, Sindhis, residents

of  Gilgit  and  Baltistan  also  want  to  secede.  The  Muhajirs  and  residents  of

Saraikistan are demanding greater autonomy and the sectarian fissures between

the Shia and Sunni are increasingly coming to the fore. There is acute water

shortage,  poor  medical  care,  rising  pollution,  country  is  facing  population

explosion, illiteracy is increasing, and education system is nearing collapse. These

factors would hamper the economic progress of the region and an increasingly

disillusioned population will be targeted by terrorist organisations to gain recruits

into their ranks. The rising influence of Taliban and the prevailing uncertainty in

Afghanistan would also be detrimental for the peace of the region.

13

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THE WAY FORWARD

According  to  the  analysis  conducted  on  the  basis  of  Global  Terror

Database (GTD) on the terrorist attacks carried out globally between 1970 and

2017, South Asia emerged as the second most affected area in the world. The

maximum  terror  attacks  were  carried  out  in  Middle  East  and  North  Africa

(MENA). In fact, before 1970 there were negligible terrorist attacks in South

Asia, but the number rapidly swelled after 1970. As per GTD, in 2017 South

Asia accounted for 29 percent deaths and 31 percent of the total terrorist attacks

worldwide. In 2017, a total of 10,900 terrorist attacks occurred globally out of

which 3,430 terror attacks occurred in South Asia region in which about 7,664

persons were killed. Most of the terrorist outfits resorted to bombings.

14

Large  number  of  terrorist  organisations  working  in  South  Asia  have

connections with international terrorist outfits including IS and al Qaeda. There

are also instances where terrorist outfits of one country have connections with

terrorist organisations of other country. It is reported that National Thowheeth

Jamaath (NTJ) of Sri Lanka has links with Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamaat (TNTJ).

Sri  Lanka  also  mentioned  that  NTJ  got  training  and  assistance  from  India.

Consequently, it is essential for the intelligence organisations of different countries

to cooperate and share actionable intelligence. Sri Lankan security forces are

being assisted by US intelligence organisations and they also sought assistance

from Pakistan security forces.

South  Asian  countries  need  to  make  stringent  laws  so  that  spread  of

Wahhabism  and  Salafism  can  be  stopped.  Because  of  influx  of  petrodollars,

large number of madrassas and mosques have emerged and several of them are

involved  in  preaching  extremism.  Government  should  introduce  scientific

education in these religious institutions so that after education the students get

some decent jobs in the society.

South Asian nations should take lesson from US President George Bush

who took stringent measures after terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda on 11 September

2001. The US Congress passed the “Patriot Act” which President Bush signed

into law on 26 October 2001. The Act made extensive reforms in the intelligence-

sharing of different intelligence agencies in the country. Department of Homeland

Security (DHS) was created to which huge budget with immense power was

given to fight diverse terrorist organisations in and outside USA.

The security agencies must be equipped with latest electronic gadgets so

that they can produce actionable intelligence and once actionable intelligence is

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gathered it must be acted upon in time to eliminate the potential threat.

The international terrorist outfits especially Islamic State is using internet

vigorously for recruitment of new cadres. IS has uploaded a lot of inflammatory

and radical literature as well as hate speeches of several extremist preachers.

The security agencies of South Asian nations must counteract the negative impact

of such messaging.

Efforts need to be made by all states to preserve communal harmony as

communal conflict works to the advantage of terrorist organisations, enabling

them to gather recruits and financial support. A detailed plan also needs to be

made by all states to handle those fighters who had joined the Islamic State and

who have now returned to their respective countries. As a first step, all such

individuals need to be identified and watched. According to reports about 50

Indians had also gone to Syria and now they are hiding in Afghanistan. These

diehard terrorists are trying to recruit disillusioned Muslim youths through internet

and social media. Their activities too need to be kept under constant surveillance.

In  terrorist  activities  role  of  support  agents  is  very  important.  ISI  has

already cultivated large number of support agents in a few South Asian countries

especially in India. The security forces must identify them and take legal measures

to keep them confined, as it will be very difficult for terrorists to function without

support agents. South Asian nations collectively as well as individually need to

chalk out a detailed plan to counter rising terrorism. The war on terrorism will

have to be fought on multifarious fronts including law and order, social, economic,

political and religious, if victory is to be achieved.

Notes  and  References

1

South Asia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2

Office of the Director of National Intelligence: Global Trends: Paradox of Progress;

South Asia.

3

Ibid

4

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/25/asia/sri-lanka-death-toll-lower/index.html

5

Jai Kumar Verma: Sri Lanka Blasts Handiwork Of Islamic State; Aviation & Defence

Universe

6

https://www.foxnews.com/world/easter-church-bombings-were-retaliation-for-new-

zealand-mosque-attacks-sri-lankan-state-minister-says

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7

United States Institute of Peace: Extremism in South Asia: New Ways to Respond?

Options for Thwarting Extremist Groups Across the Region CENTER:

Asia Center

8

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48169104

9

Jai Kumar Verma: Lasting Solution to Afghan Crisis; The Pioneer dated 11

th

 July

2018

10   Pakistan ‘epicenter’ of terrorism, says Mullen: Deccan Herald Washington, Jan 13,

(PTI):, JAN 13 2011, 07:30AM IST UPDATED: MAY 03 2018,

https://www.deccanherald.com/content/128790/pakistan-epicenter-terrorism-says-

mullen.html

11   This Long List Of Pakistan’s Terror Groups Is Just Tip Of The Iceberg Press Trust

of India Updated February 22, 2019 NDTV

12   Ayaz Gul: “Islamic State Announces, ‘Pakistan Province” Voice of America: May

16, 2019

13   Jai Kumar Verma: Moral Disintegration of a Neighbourhood Nation; The Pioneer

dated 23

rd

 September 2017

14   Mukesh  Rawat:  Sri  Lanka  terror  attack:  How  South  Asia  emerged  as  hotbed  for

terror attacks since 1970: India Today dated 22 April 2019 Updated: 12 May, 2019